Safety Catheter and Needle Assembly

ABSTRACT

An intravenous catheter and safety needle assembly is disclosed which includes a catheter assembly, a needle assembly and a needle guard. The needle guard is supported within a hub of the catheter and is positioned to engage an enlarged diameter portion of a needle of the needle assembly during withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly to effect an inversion of the needle guard about a sharpened tip of the needle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/539,153 which was filed on Sep. 26, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a needle assembly including a needle guard for use in medical procedures, and in particular to intravenous (“I.V.”) catheter assemblies including a needle assembly that includes a needle tip guard to cover a tip of a needle to prevent accidental needle sticks.

BACKGROUND

There are a variety of needles available for different medical and surgical uses. For example, intravenous catheters are utilized in various applications for supplying or withdrawing fluids to or from the body. The intravenous catheter includes an external cannula for indwelling in a blood vessel of a patient and an internal needle that is inserted into the external cannula to facilitate smooth piercing of the blood vessel of the patient. In operation, the internal needle is inserted into the external cannula such that the tip portion of the internal needle protrudes from a tip portion of the external cannula. The internal needle is manipulated to pierce a blood vessel and to position the external cannula within the blood vessel. Then, while the external cannula indwells in the blood vessel, the internal needle is withdrawn from the external cannula. With the external cannula positioned within a blood vessel, a medical device can be connected to the rear end portion of the external cannula using, for example, a luer connector, to facilitate the supply and withdrawal of fluid, e.g., blood, medication, etc., to or from the body.

After the internal needle is withdrawn from the external cannula, the exposed needle tip creates a danger of accidental needle stick which can leave a clinician vulnerable to the transmission of various blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV and hepatitis. While needle tip protectors have been developed to protect the clinician from needle stick injuries, the cost, ease of use, and effectiveness of these needle tip protectors leaves room for improvement.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a needle tip guard that is easily activated by a clinician, adequately protects the clinician from accidental needle stick injury, and is economical to produce.

SUMMARY

An IV catheter and safety needle assembly is provided which includes a catheter assembly, a needle assembly and a needle guard. The catheter assembly includes a catheter hub defining a receptacle and a tubular catheter extending distally from and in fluid communication with the receptacle. The catheter hub includes one or more protrusions extending from an inner wall of the catheter hub into the receptacle. The needle assembly includes a needle hub defining a chamber and a needle in fluid communication with the chamber. The needle has a sharpened distal tip and an enlarged diameter portion disposed proximally of the distal tip. The needle is dimensioned to extend through the catheter assembly such that the sharpened tip extends from a distal end of the tubular catheter. The needle guard is supported within the receptacle and has a proximal end positioned adjacent to the one or more protrusions and a distal end having an inner diameter which is smaller than the enlarged diameter portion of the needle. Upon withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly, the enlarged diameter of the needle is positioned to engage the distal end of the needle guard to move the needle guard into the one or more protrusions and effect an inversion of the needle guard about the sharpened tip of the needle.

In one embodiment, the enlarged diameter portion of the needle defines a crimp. Alternately, the enlarged diameter portion of the needle may include a protuberance formed on the needle.

The needle guard may define a conical throughbore having a diameter at a proximal end which is larger than the inner diameter at the distal end. In addition, the needle guard may also have a conical configuration.

In one embodiment, the needle hub defines a flashback chamber and is formed from a transparent material. The needle guard may include a cutout formed in an outer surface of the needle guard which is positioned and configured to receive the enlarged diameter portion of the needle upon inversion of the needle guard. The enlarged diameter portion of the needle is configured to resist removal of the enlarged diameter portion from the cutout. In the alternative, the enlarged diameter portion of the needle may be dimensioned to frictionally engage the inner diameter of the needle guard after inversion of the needle to retain the needle guard on the tip of the needle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein with references to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the distal end of one embodiment of the presently disclosed IV catheter and safety needle assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view with parts separated of the IV catheter and safety needle assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the IV catheter and safety needle assembly taken along section lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the IV catheter and safety needle assembly shown in FIG. 3 as the needle assembly is being separated from the catheter assembly;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the IV catheter and safety needle assembly shown in FIG. 4 as the needle assembly is being separated from the catheter assembly and the needle tip guard is being inverted;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the needle assembly and needle guard after the needle assembly has been separated from the catheter assembly and the needle tip guard has been inverted about the needle tip;

FIG. 7 is side cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the presently disclosed needle and needle guard prior to inversion of the needle guard; and

FIG. 7A is a side cross-sectional view of the needle and needle guard shown in FIG. 7 with the needle guard inverted about the needle tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments of the presently disclosed IV catheter and safety needle assembly are described herein with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding elements in each of the several views. In the following discussion, the term “proximal” should be understood as referring to the portion of a device or structure that is closer to a clinician during proper use and the term “distal” should be understood as referring to the portion of a device or structure that is further from the clinician during proper use. In addition, the term “patient” should be understood to refer to a human or other animal and the term “clinician” should be understood to refer to a doctor, nurse, or other care provider and may include support personnel.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the presently disclosed IV catheter and safety needle assembly, shown generally as 10, includes a catheter assembly 12, a needle assembly 14 and a needle guard 16 (FIG. 2). Catheter assembly 12 includes a catheter hub 18 and a tubular catheter 20 which is secured to a distal end 18 a of the catheter hub 18. Catheter hub 18 defines a receptacle 20 which fluidly communicates with a distal throughbore 22 of catheter hub 18. The proximal end 20 a of tubular catheter 20 is secured within the distal throughbore 22 of catheter hub 18 using adhesives, crimping or the like. One or more protrusions 24 are formed on an inner wall of catheter hub 18 which extend into receptacle 20. Alternatively, a single annular protrusion may be provided on the inner wall of catheter hub 18.

Needle assembly 14 includes a needle hub 30 and a hollow needle 32. Needle 32 includes a sharpened distal tip 34 and a distally positioned enlarged diameter portion 36. Enlarged diameter portion 36 is spaced proximally of distal tip 34 and may be formed by crimping the hollow needle 32 or, in the alternative, by applying or forming a protuberance on the needle 32. A proximal end 32 a of needle 32 is secured to needle hub 30 using any known fastening technique, e.g., adhesives, crimping, molding or the like. The needle hub 30 defines a chamber 35 which is in fluid communication with a throughbore 37 which extends through the distal end 30 a of needle hub 30. Proximal end 32 a of needle 32 is secured within throughbore 37 of needle hub 30.

A distal surface 40 of needle hub 30 may define an annular recess 42 which is dimensioned to frictionally receive and engage the proximal end 18 b of catheter hub 18. The receipt of needle hub 30 within annular recess 42 releasably secures needle hub 30 to catheter hub 18. In one embodiment, the needle hub 18 is formed from a transparent material such as any polymer including polypropylenes, polycarbonates, polyethylenes or the like, to facilitate visualization of blood flashback within chamber 35.

Needle guard 16 includes a body 50 defining a throughbore 52 having a first diameter at a distal end 50 a of body 50 and a second larger diameter at a proximal end 50 b of body 50. In one embodiment, the needle guard 16 and the throughbore 52 are conically shaped and the first diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the needle 32. Alternatively, the needle guard 16 and throughbore 52 may assume any of a variety of different configurations, e.g., a stepped configuration, capable of inversion as will be discussed in further detail below. The first diameter of throughbore 52 is smaller than the outer diameter of enlarged diameter portion 36 of needle 32 as will be discussed in further detail below.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the presently disclosed IV catheter and safety needle assembly 10 is assembled, the needle guard 16 is positioned within the receptacle 20 defined by the catheter hub 18 such that the proximal end 50 b of needle guard 16 is positioned adjacent to the one or more protrusions 24 formed on the inner wall of catheter hub 18. In addition, proximal end 18 b of catheter hub 18 is positioned within the annular recess 42 defined in the distal surface 40 of needle hub 14 to frictionally secure needle hub 14 to catheter hub 18. In this position, the needle 32 of needle assembly 14 extends through receptacle 20 of catheter hub 18 and throughbore 52 of needle guard 16 such that needle tip 34 projects outwardly from tubular catheter 20. Although not shown, a cap or cover may be provided to enclose the needle tip 34 during shipping and storage of the IV catheter and safety needle assembly 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, after tubular catheter 20 has been placed into a patient's vasculature in a known manner by piercing the tissue of a patient with needle tip 34 of needle 32 and proper placement has been confirmed by visualization of blood flashback within chamber 35 of needle hub 30, the needle 32 can be withdrawn from catheter assembly 12 by grasping the catheter hub 18 and pulling needle assembly 14 proximally in relation to catheter assembly 12 in the direction indicated by arrows “A” in FIG. 4. As needle 32 is withdrawn from catheter assembly 12, the needle 32 will pass through the needle guard 16 until the enlarged diameter portion 36 engages the distal end 50 a of needle guard 16. Because the enlarged diameter portion 36 of needle 32 is larger in diameter than the inner diameter of throughbore 52 of the distal end 50 a of the needle guard 50, further withdrawal of needle 32 from catheter assembly 12 effects movement of the proximal end 50 b of needle guard 16 into the one or more protrusions 24 to prevent proximal movement of needle guard 16 in relation to catheter assembly 12.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the proximal end 50 b engages the one or more protrusions 24 and the needle 32 is further withdrawn from catheter assembly 12, protrusions 24 cause the needle guard 16 to begin to invert (FIG. 5) such that continued withdrawal of needle 32 from catheter assembly 12 will effect a complete inversion of needle guard 16. Referring to FIG. 6, after the needle guard 16 has been inverted, the needle tip 34 will be enclosed within the inverted needle guard 16. As illustrated, in this position, the enlarged diameter portion 36 of the needle 32 will be in frictional engagement with the smaller diameter end of the throughbore 52 defined by the needle guard 16 to frictionally retain the needle guard 16 on the distal end of needle 32 covering needle tip 34.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 7A, in an alternative embodiment of the presently disclosed IV catheter and safety needle assembly, the needle guard 116 may include a cutout 120 defined in the outer surface 116 a of needle guard 116 which is positioned to receive the enlarged diameter portion 136 of needle 132 when the needle guard 116 is inverted. In addition, the enlarged diameter portion 136 of the needle 132 may include one or more protrusions which are shaped to more effectively secure the needle guard 116 to the needle 132 after the needle guard 116 has been inverted about the needle tip 134. For example, one or both of the ends the protrusions may be substantially vertical to prevent withdrawal of the protrusions 136 from cutout 120 of needle guard 116.

Although the presently disclosed needle assembly and needle guard are described herein in association with an IV catheter assembly, it is envisioned that the needle assembly and needle guard would function properly absent the IV catheter assembly. In such a device, the needle guard 16, 116 would be positioned about needle 32, 132 proximally of enlarged diameter portion 36, 136 during use of the needle 32. After the needle 32, 132 has been used, the needle guard 16, 116 is manually advanced along needle 32, 132 to move the distal end of the needle guard 16, 116 into engagement with the enlarged diameter portion of the needle 32, 132 such that needle guard 16, 116 is inverted about the distal tip 34, 134 of needle 32, 132.

The components of the presently disclosed IV catheter and safety needle assembly may be formed from a variety of different materials as known in the art. For example, the tubular catheter may be fabricated from polyurethanes or silicone, the needle hub and catheter hub may be fabricated from polymers including polyether imides, ABS resins and polyethylene, and the needle may be fabricated from stainless steel, titanium, as well as from polymers. Additionally, other materials of composition are envisioned.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. It is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the system based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An IV catheter and safety needle assembly comprising: a catheter assembly including a catheter hub defining a receptacle and a tubular catheter extending distally from and in fluid communication with the receptacle, the catheter hub including one or more protrusions extending from an inner wall of the catheter hub into the receptacle; a needle assembly including a needle hub defining a chamber and a needle in fluid communication with the chamber, the needle including a sharpened distal tip and an enlarged diameter portion disposed proximally of the distal tip, the needle being dimensioned to extend through the catheter assembly such that the sharpened tip extends from a distal end of the tubular catheter; and a needle guard supported within the receptacle and having a proximal end positioned adjacent to the one or more protrusions and a distal end having an inner diameter which is smaller than the enlarged diameter portion of the needle, wherein upon withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly, the enlarged diameter portion of the needle is positioned to engage the distal end of the needle guard to move the needle guard into the one or more protrusions and effect an inversion of the needle guard about the sharpened tip of the needle.
 2. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the enlarged diameter portion of the needle defines a crimp.
 3. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the enlarged diameter portion of the needle includes a protuberance formed on the needle.
 4. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the needle guard defines a conical throughbore having a diameter at a proximal end which is larger than the inner diameter at the distal end.
 5. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 4, wherein the needle guard has a conical configuration.
 6. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the needle hub defines a flashback chamber.
 7. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 6, wherein the needle hub is formed from a transparent material.
 8. The IV catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the needle guard includes a cutout formed in an outer surface of the needle guard, the cutout being positioned and configured to receive the enlarged diameter portion of the needle upon inversion of the needle guard.
 9. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 8, wherein the enlarged diameter portion of the needle is configured to resist removal of the enlarged diameter portion from the cutout.
 10. The IV catheter and safety needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the enlarged diameter portion of the needle is dimensioned to frictionally engage the inner diameter of the needle guard after inversion of the needle to retain the needle guard on the tip of the needle. 